I can’t believe it’s already been a month since we were in France. Time flies by so fast it’s scary. Now that I’m fully immersed into the daily grind again I find myself reflecting on our trip to France quite frequently. It was such an amazing experience and one day in particular really stands out in my mind. Here is my recap of our day in the most opulent city I’ve ever been to, Monaco.

After such a dreary day yesterday we woke up to amazing weather. In typical Sellers’ fashion we stayed up almost all night and barely made it in time for breakfast…just in time for closing in fact. We convinced the waitress to let us partake in some of the buffet and fill up on some morning cappuccinos. This was definitely the best breakfast buffet we’ve had so far.

Our last few days in Nice were non-stop so there was very little time in the hotel room to blog our final days. We made it back to Dallas and of course it’s been go go go ever since. I definitely can’t leave you hanging on what happened the final days of our trip so here is a recap of day 10 in Nice!

When we arrived in Nice yesterday it was quite dreary outside resulting in a pretty raining night. This morning was no different. We woke up to rainy skies and a damp outlook for the rest of the day. There was 90% rain in the forecast for the remainder of the afternoon which meant our all day Hop on Hop Off Pass might not be as picturesque as I wanted.

Last night we stayed up super late as usual so unfortunately we missed the breakfast buffet. Since it was windy and rainy outside we opted to stay in and order room service. Even with the bad weather the ocean view was spectacular and the breeze from our opened balcony door was cool and refreshing.

Today is our longest travel day of the trip. Since Annecy is in the mountains we had to backtrack to Lyon then change trains to Nice. I love Europe’s transportation system. It’s easy to hop on a train and travel to multiple different places. A luxury I wish we had back in the states.

We woke up super early and grabbed some breakfast before our 8am train. Le Mercure Annecy was a great hotel. The staff was nice, breakfast was good, and the rooms were nice and clean. Even though there was no AC the cool weather made it comfortable at night with the window open.

I have to mention the biscuits we bought from La Cure Gourmande in Annecy. They were absolutely delish and a perfect snack for long hours on the train. The country side on our way to Nice was incredible. Town after town you see mountains with ancient medieval castles at the very top surrounded by old cities. It’s like something straight from a fairytale. The strangest thing was seeing these medieval cities set amongst modern towns like Avignon. There’s so much history everywhere, yet there’s so much graffiti as well. It’s a strange mix of the different centuries blended together.Continue reading →

Today is our last full day in Annecy and we’ve had such a wonderful time. The city is so beautiful and vibrant. Our plan is to head back to the lake for a stroll and check out the boat tours. Lake Annecy is a part of a group of lakes starting with the largest in Geneva, Lac Léman. The crystal clear mountain water is just magnificent. To get the day started we headed downstairs for some breakfast. Of course I had my usual bread, cheese, meat and scrambled eggs. I definitely foresee lots of running in my future after feasting on all of this incredible French cuisine.

We headed straight to the waterfront and took some more fabulous pictures. I’m sure the lake is amazing in the summertime. The waters are so inviting. We didn’t see any boat tours at the moment so we headed to the old town center for some ice cream. I don’t know if it’s the atmosphere or allure of being in another country but the ice cream in France is fantastic. We walked around with our mint chocolate chip and coconut ice cream before finally heading out on the lake.Continue reading →

Today we are bidding adieu to Beaune and heading to Annecy in the Rhônes Alps region. Beaune is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been and I look forward to visiting again! I’m not too familiar with Annecy and honestly, in my own ignorance, I thought we were heading to Lyon, but it’s definitely not Lyon. Breakfast was kept to croissants and coffee this morning as we said goodbye to Bruno and headed to the train station.

When we made it to Lyon station we grabbed a quick bite, Croque Monsieur, and hopped another train to Annecy. After a two hour train ride through the gorgeous mountains we finally arrived.

Tourist Mistake #1 – not looking at a map before you take a cab to your hotel.

One block and 10 Euros later we arrived at our hotel asking ourselves…what just happened. So now we know to look on a map and find your hotel first so you’re not gauged by the taxi driver. Okay moving on..Continue reading →

Another good nights rest and another beautiful day in Beaune. Today is our lunch and wine tasting at La Table D’Olivier Leflaive. It’s also our four year wedding anniversary!! I couldn’t have dreamt of a better place to be spending it but in the beautiful Burgundy wine country.

Since we’re in for a heavy lunch we opted out of breakfast and enjoyed some coffee in the hotel sitting area. I have to reiterate the beauty of our hotel. The sitting room isn’t your normal sitting area in your traditional hotel.

This room is a 12th century monastery with stone vaulted ceilings illuminated by candle light. Bruno, the owner of the hotel, has every table decorated with antique candle sticks and fine linens. While you enjoy your breakfast and morning coffee you can listen to the jazz or soothing classical music playing in the background…I’m in heaven.Continue reading →

We woke up to a cold and drizzly day this morning in beautiful Beaune, but it’s definitely a nice break from the 100 degrees we’ve been enduring in Texas. Last night was the best nights sleep we’ve had since we got here. The dark stone walls of the hotel made for the perfect place to sleep soundly. Thankfully breakfast was served until noon so we made it just in time for some warm bread and cheese. I’m utterly amazed at how much cheese and bread is consumed in France…and everyone is skinny!! I’m definitely not complaining, cheese and bread in the morning hasn’t gotten old yet!

Today is our wine safari day!! We will be touring the beautiful Burgundy region and tasting some of the most illustrious Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the entire world. Burgundy is especially known for their Chardonnay.Continue reading →

Today we are leaving Paris and heading to the Burgundy wine country. I wish we had a full month in France so we could spend more time in Paris. It’s unlike any city I’ve ever been to. The culture, food, and vibe is unlike any other place in the world.

The Biggest mistake we made was taking our sweet time at breakfast. We leisurely hopped on the metro, heading to the Paris Gare de Lyon station only to realize we had nine minutes to make our train. Everyone was telling us we wouldn’t make it but 9 minutes later and a full sprint while carrying 50 pound bags…we made the train. Thank you P90X- I can now see the benefits of our 90 days together!

Today was a beautiful day in Paris. No air conditioning or fan to drown out the silence at night meant little sleep and a determined start to the day. We started the morning with breakfast at our hotel.

The Menu

An assortment of meats and cheese

Croissants & baguettes

Cereal

Yogurt

Scrambled eggs

I decided to stick with the bread, cheese and salami. It was just what I needed to get me through the morning exhaustion.

Our trip has finally begun! For the last three years Matt and I have been planning a dream trip to Europe. Unfortunately we only have two weeks so we decided to limit our travel time and stay in one country. We’ve both spent some significant time in Italy in the past so France it is!! What more could a foodie ask for then a country known for its decadent wine and impeccable cuisine. Let the drinking and feasting begin!

The itinerary:
• Paris
• Beaune – Burgundy Wine Country
• Lyon
• Nice

Our adventure started with an overnight flight direct to Paris. I have to give a shout-out to American Airlines. I haven’t been very pleased lately with the level of service on flights these days and the evening started with our flight being delayed almost two hours. Not only was the food good on the flight, but due to the inconvenience drinks were free the entire flight!! A few glasses of wine and some surprisingly delicious food later…it was time for a movie and an attempt at some sleep.